Everything You Need To Know About Cat Fleas and Ticks with Blue Oasis Pet Hospital
What are the symptoms of fleas in cats?
Some of the more common symptoms that you will see with fleas in cats are excessive scratching, especially around the face, and also along the body. You can also notice hair loss. Sometimes they'll have scabbing. And definitely, if your cat is having any of that excessive scratching or overgrooming, let us know because it could be a sign of fleas.
How do I treat my cat for fleas?
We typically will recommend a monthly prevention to help prevent but also to treat your cat that has fleas. Usually, our recommended one that we carry in our office is Revolution Plus and it works really great.
What are the signs of a tick infestation in cats?
In cats with ticks, they can sometimes present with lethargy, lameness, and sometimes weight loss. And you should see a tick on your cat's skin as well. So, if your cat is experiencing any of these kinds of vague symptoms, definitely contact us so that we can help determine if they may have a skin allergy or a tick bite that's been causing them.
How do I safely remove a tick from my cat?
Proper tick removal can be kind of scary because you don't want to potentially harm your cat. So, I always recommend that if you do not feel comfortable doing it yourself, contact us so that we can have your cat brought in to see us and we can safely remove it.
What are the symptoms of cat intestinal parasites or worms?
A lot of times, cats that have intestinal parasites and worms will show with scooting on their booty, sometimes even like excessive licking around their booties or tails. They can also have some weight loss and sometimes lethargy. Those can be our big signs that we'll see. You may even notice some changes to their stool consistency.
How are intestinal worms treated in cats?
It typically depends on which type of intestinal parasite your pet has because there are a couple of different options that we use. So, we usually will have to figure out with a stool sample first to determine exactly what type of medication we have to use to help treat them.
What are ear mites and how do they affect cats?
Ear mites are exactly what they sound like. They're tiny little mites that are living in the cat's ears. Long-term, ear mites can definitely cause discomfort in your cat's ears, and they can even cause secondary infections. A lot of times, you'll see excessive scratching at the ears. You might even notice some hair loss around the back of the ears from where they have been scratching so much. You can also sometimes see an accumulation of discharge at the entrance to their ears. If you notice any of those, definitely let us know.
How do cats get ear mites?
Cats typically get ear mites from other kitties. They are typically transmitted from another cat, and it is really common to see in cats who have come from shelters, rescue situations, or even cats who have lived outdoors.
How do I treat my cat for ear mites?
We recommend treatment for ear mites to be done in your veterinary hospital so that we can make sure we do it properly and also follow up to ensure that we get rid of them completely, because occasionally we'll need a couple rounds of treatment.
Are fleas and ticks parasites?
Yes, fleas and ticks are external parasites that live on the outside of your pet's body.
How do fleas and ticks impact the health of a cat?
Fleas and ticks can have serious effects on a cat's health. They take blood meals, which in small cats can be life-threatening due to blood loss. They can also transmit various diseases and intestinal parasites, causing a range of health problems for your cat.
How can I prevent flea and tick infestations in cats?
The most common method of flea and tick prevention is the use of topical treatments. While oral medications are available, they can be difficult to administer to cats. There are also various collars designed for flea and tick prevention. It's important to consult your veterinarian for the best prevention methods for your cat's specific needs, and avoid using over-the-counter products, as they can sometimes be toxic to your cat.
What are the signs and symptoms of flea and tick infestations in cats?
Signs of flea and tick infestations in cats include flea anemia, flea bite allergy, intense itching, secondary infections, and the transmission of infectious diseases. Cat skin issues can become more than just what you see with your naked eye. Symptoms can include anemia, lethargy, and various other illnesses, some of which can be fatal.
What do fleas and ticks look like on cats?
Fleas are small, black, and only a couple of millimeters in size. They can be difficult to spot on cats due to their grooming habits. Flea dirt, or excrement, can sometimes be found on a cat's hair coat or on an exam table. Ticks are larger and easier to spot, often found engorged around a cat's ears or on their bottoms.
What are the most effective flea and tick treatments?
The most effective flea and tick treatments are those prescribed by your veterinarian. They can recommend safe and effective prevention methods, such as topical treatments and collars. It's important to have a conversation with your veterinarian to determine the best treatment for your cat's specific needs.
What should I do if I find fleas and ticks on my cat?
If you find fleas or ticks on your cat, don't panic. Consult your veterinarian for the most effective treatment and prevention methods. They can help you properly address the issue and prevent future infestations.
What are the most common parasites that affect cats?
The most common parasites that we'll see in cats are fleas, ticks, tapeworms, roundworms, and mites. Typically, ear mites are more common.
How do I know if my cat has parasites?
That's a very good question because sometimes you don't even know because you can't see them from the outside. If your cat has an external parasite like fleas and ticks, it can be a little bit easier to see them. But sometimes we catch these internal parasites like roundworms and tapeworms, and sometimes even ear mites, on their physical exam or when we do their yearly fecal sampling.
Can my cat get heartworms and how are they prevented?
Yes, cats actually can get heartworms. It's not very common for us to see it just because they're not as susceptible or prone to getting heartworm disease as dogs can be. But it actually can be very deadly if they do contract even one heartworm. So that's why we always recommend that you keep them on their prevention.
How can I prevent my cat from getting parasites?
Oh, the best way to keep them from getting parasites is prevention. We typically recommend that your pet stays on a monthly prevention to help prevent them from contracting fleas, ticks, and heartworms. It can also help us protect against some of our intestinal parasites as well.
Can my indoor cat get parasites?
Yes, your indoor cat actually can get parasites. We sometimes see cases where you can bring in fleas and ticks on your clothing, and your cat can contract them that way. There's also the potential for spread from other animals in the house.
What should I do if I suspect my cat has a parasite?
If you suspect that your cat has a parasite, I definitely recommend that you reach out to us, and we will help you confirm that.
How often should my cat be checked for parasites?
We typically recommend once-a-year fecal screening for our patients to help us rule out some of our more common intestinal parasites. We also recommend that you bring them in yearly so that we can screen for some of those external parasites that you may not see, especially ear mites.
Can parasites in cats be transmitted to humans?
There are a few different types of parasites in cats that can actually be transmitted to humans, which is why it's very important that if you suspect your cat may have one, you reach out to us so that we can help guide you on what the next best steps would be.
What are the long-term effects of untreated parasite infections in cats?
Some of the long-term effects that can happen to cats who are left untreated could be lethargy. Sometimes they'll have some weight loss. There can be lots of scratching, especially if they have fleas, scratching at the ear, and scratching all over their body. If it's intestinal parasites and they're undetected for a long time, it can cause a lot of weight loss, malabsorption, and some bad complications that can happen.
How do I choose the right parasite prevention for my cat?
We are your best resource in helping find the best prevention for your cat. I always recommend talking to your veterinarian about what you would like to keep your cat on because there are lots of different options.
Are there any natural remedies for treating parasites in cats?
As far as natural remedies go, I don't know of any that have been proven to be successful. We typically recommend that you keep them on something that will help prevent them from getting intestinal parasites, heartworms, fleas, and ticks. There haven't been any proven natural remedies that can work.
If you have questions, we would love to answer them for you. Please give us a call at the office at (615) 975-2583 , or you can email us at [email protected]. Our staff would love to talk with you!
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